Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: How much, if at all, do you think this team's confidence is shaken from having a game like today?
A: Zero. I mean at the end of the day, it's the NFL, every team is a great team. They came out here, they played great. We're not going to panic. We're not going to worry. We're not going to waver at all. That's for you guys to go out there and say what you want to say about us. At the end of the day, the only focus we have is the men and women in the locker room and the facility.
Q: You really haven't, as a team, had a game like this, this year. As it was going on, I'm sure it was frustrating. Were there points when you just felt like, this isn't us, today?
A: Yeah, I mean we had a lot of drives where we were driving and had penalties. It was little things. That's what it all comes down to and that's just the theme of today. That's in every win and every loss. You can say that every week. And whatever team executes better and whatever team does the little things better is mostly likely going to come out with the win. You've got to move on.
Q: How much does this offense change when you can't run the ball consistently?
A: I don't know. I don't think it really changes. I think that's for any team in the league. If you're not running the ball well, you're going to pass the ball. I guess that's just the answer there. If the run game is not going, you're kind of tied with one hand behind your back, you've got to pass the ball, so that's why it's important for myself to get this run game back on track and the best way to do that is moving on and getting ready for Thursday.
Q: You very often will be chipping away and maybe get two- and three-yard games and then you'll pop one. Were you kind of waiting for that to happen all day today?
A: No, I wasn't just waiting to pop a long run. When you get that mindset, they're not going to come. I was trying to take what they give me. I was trying to focus on taking little runs, taking little runs, and when the opportunity comes, make them pay, and I didn't make them pay at all today. I've got to give credit to all those boys over there and the (Lions) D-Coordinator. They did a really good job today.
Q: Is there any kind of mental toll when guys go down with the frequency that guys did in this game? The offensive line – a lot of guys went down, (WR) Wan'Dale (Robinson) went down. I know you guys are used to it, but there was a lot in this game.
A: Yeah, there was a lot. I mean, really, to be honest, you really don't realize it until after the game. You're so caught up in the game, but then you find out that guys are going down, but that's the NFL. There's got to be a next man up mentality, but the guys that went down and for a guy like Wan'Dale who's young, who's got a young career and still a bright future, you know he's having a heck of a day and all the other guys, you know, you've just got to keep your head up and we've got to make sure we rally around them and support them.
Q: How big of a loss is that? Wan'Dale looks like he was in a lot of pain and it looks like he's going to miss some time at the very least?
A: Yeah, I don't know the extent of the injury, but anytime you see one of your brothers go down, it's not a good feeling. That's just part of the game, sadly, you know, you play it long enough.
Q: So how much do you guys sort of need him? I mean you saw today he was a huge part of that offense.
A: We know how explosive he can be. We know the plays that he can make, so, like I said, I don't know the extent of the injury but not having him out there is definitely going to be a loss, but it's going to give other guys opportunities and we have all the confidence in all the other guys too to step in and make plays.
Q: How disappointing is this in terms of the standings?
A: It's just disappointing because of the loss. To be completely honest, I know you guys probably don't believe it, like we really don't pay attention to that. We really don't care about that. The only thing we can focus on is one day at a time. Like if we had that mindset, we'll drive ourselves insane, we'll drive ourselves crazy, so it's just disappointing because you lost. At the end of the day, 7-3 going into Thanksgiving game against Dallas with a chance to get things back on track and we've got to execute and take advantage of that opportunity.
Q: How do you put this game in the past with such a short week?
A: By playing on Thursday.
Its not all on Barkley, the OL did less than nothing in the passing game. I know you think he was dancing, but when there is no hole, and a DL standing there, you have to try and get around him. You can't just put your head down into his gut.
Lemieux was clearly not ready to come and play a full time role -- nor Peart. I didn't see specifically how Gates played when he subbed in for Feliciano - but Gates is also a back up right now in a new Offensive system. Peart and Lemieux were both like turn styles out there. If it all starts up front then there was bad base of operations there. They had to replace Lemieux - his game was embarrassingly bad.
Lemieux was clearly not ready to come and play a full time role -- nor Peart. I didn't see specifically how Gates played when he subbed in for Feliciano - but Gates is also a back up right now in a new Offensive system. Peart and Lemieux were both like turn styles out there. If it all starts up front then there was bad base of operations there. They had to replace Lemieux - his game was embarrassingly bad.
Then put money into the best backup oline in the nfl and draft a rb in the 3rd round.
Last week he had 150 yds, and until today he was leading the NFL in rushing. Really weird to think he isn't any good.
So much of this game is dictated by blocking, and honestly, the interior line was bad today, too.
Barkley is being very kind here, putting it on himself. That's what a leader does and that's why he's a captain.
I have to re-watch this and yes, there was a couple of runs where he got indecisive and didn't take the play that was there, but those plays were not the reason the run game couldn't get going. It was the commitment to shut down #26 by the Lions and they were the more physically dominant team in the trenches. They overwhelmed the blocking on almost every run play.
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5 games. Not sure major resources should be allocated into rb
Last week he had 150 yds, and until today he was leading the NFL in rushing. Really weird to think he isn't any good.
On a 4.2 ypc, it’s decent against the worst rushing d in the nfl. The point is that we can’t pay him big money if everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. He was a joke today on 3rd and short and couldn’t beat a linebacker for 2 yards to get us a first down.
You're absolutely right, Bill. But what Saquon can do in those circumstances is run for 200 and score 2 or 3 times.
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In comment 15915729 bubba0825 said:
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5 games. Not sure major resources should be allocated into rb
Last week he had 150 yds, and until today he was leading the NFL in rushing. Really weird to think he isn't any good.
On a 4.2 ypc, it’s decent against the worst rushing d in the nfl. The point is that we can’t pay him big money if everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. He was a joke today on 3rd and short and couldn’t beat a linebacker for 2 yards to get us a first down.
Your combining two things. How much the team should pay for a RB in the teams current state is one thing. Wether Barkley is the best, or one of the best, RB's in football is another. I separate the two. I think Barkley is great and behind a decent line will do 150 yds per game often. It doesn't have to be perfect, just average. If they can't block, and he is running it DL players in the backfield, of course he can't do much. Same goes for QB, WR, etc. The OL makes everything go, and allows your to leverage your big play guys.
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In comment 15915729 bubba0825 said:
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5 games. Not sure major resources should be allocated into rb
Last week he had 150 yds, and until today he was leading the NFL in rushing. Really weird to think he isn't any good.
On a 4.2 ypc, it’s decent against the worst rushing d in the nfl. The point is that we can’t pay him big money if everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. He was a joke today on 3rd and short and couldn’t beat a linebacker for 2 yards to get us a first down.
That same run defense allowed 129 yards on 33 carries to Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson.
That's a 3.9 ypc average. But Washington controlled the game with the run, much like the Giants last week.
What these two teams have in common is that any defenses are loading up the box to stop the run game because against both the Giants and Commanders, the game plan is always going to be to challenge the QB, whether it be Jones or Heinicke, to beat your defense through the air.
It's a numbers game, and when they send more guys in there than you have blockers, I don't care who you are, or what your defensive ranking is, you need to make them pay over the top. They can be 32nd in run defense and still clog the rushing lanes if they don't respect the pass.
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In comment 15915729 bubba0825 said:
Quote:
5 games. Not sure major resources should be allocated into rb
Last week he had 150 yds, and until today he was leading the NFL in rushing. Really weird to think he isn't any good.
On a 4.2 ypc, it’s decent against the worst rushing d in the nfl. The point is that we can’t pay him big money if everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. He was a joke today on 3rd and short and couldn’t beat a linebacker for 2 yards to get us a first down.